Apparatus for raising sunken vessels



(No Model.)

H. SOHUYLER.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS. No. 268,648.

791 8 Patented Dec. 5, 1882.

9 z I e Z 7 I 1 7.3, 7 WITNESSES: e M 2 /6z I R i I .gf ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. Puma-m h". Wnhinmn. n. c,

' llNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

HENRY SCHUYLER, OF STURGEON BAY, WISCONSIN.

3 APPARATUS FOR RAISINGSUNKEN VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,548, dated December 5, 1882.

ApplicationfiledMay23,1882. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY SOHUYLER, of Sturgeon Bay, in the county of Door and State of Wiscbnsin, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in hoisting gear or mechanism particularly applicable to apparatus for raising sunken vessels; and it consists in the employment of right and left handed screws carrying alternately ascending and descending bridges, to either of which is connected the hoisting chain or cable, said screws having connected to them driving or operating gear, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the plan of engaging the lifting-chains with a sunken vessel, which are used with my hoisting-gear. Fig. 2 is a plan view of hoisting scows upon which my hoisting-gear is arranged for operation, four of the latter being shown in working position; and Figs. 3 and 4 are a a plan view of my hoisting-gear.

To show the application of my hoisting gear or mechanism, 1 will first describe an apparatus for raising sunken vessels, to which it is specially adapted.

Referring to Fig. l, A represents the vessel to be raised. B is a chain-float constructed of timber and provided with buoys a a, which are arranged to float the chain clear of the bottom a distance of, say, three or four feet. b b are chains, of suitable length, connected to the float B,and extending to the tug-boats represented at 0. These chains 1) are to beef considerable length, so that they may be dropped ata sufficient distance from the vessel to clear all projecting booms. The twochains are connected by a short chain, d, which has rings 0 at its ends of a size for sliding loosely upon the chains 1). This chain at is to be lowered from the tug-boats into the'water when they have been removed a sufficient distance from the sunken vessel. The position of the chain (1 side view andthe upward movement of the bridge the chain and of the timber-fioat B and the manipulation of the tug-boats are representedin Fig.1. By the forward movement of the boats the chain 01 is drawn beneath the vessel, and timber-float B is also drawn to the vessel, so that a cradle is thus formed around the hull, and a firm hold is obtained for the chains.

' E E, Fig. 2, are scows carrying the hoisting devices. These are to be anchored in position over the vessel, as illustrated, and the chains b'connected to the capstans F, that are fixed upon the projecting ends of timbers 6,, so that a direct lift can be made.

The capstans F, as shown most clearly in Figs.3 and 4,consist of top and bottom plates, 9 9, connected together by corner-posts It, so as to form a frame. Lengthwise of this frame are fitted screws '5 t, which are out one righthanded and the other left-handed, and these screws pass through cross-bridges or lifters is 70, that are tapped to receive the screws. Upon the upper end of each screw i is a gear-wheel, Z,- and m is an intermediate gear connecting the two wheels, and by which the screws are operated. The chain 1) passes through apertures in the top and bottom plates,g g, the aperture in the top plate being between the two gearwheels 1.

1n the operation ofthe capstan,thegear-wheel at being turned in one direction, one of the screws iwill act to-raise its bridge 70 while the other screw is carrying its bridge downward.- A pin is to be put in the links of the chain above the ascending bridge, so that by will be lifted until the bridge reaches the upper plate, when the lowerbri'dgeis to be connected to the chain in the same manner, and the motion of the gear-wheel reversed. In this manner the bridges act alternately to raise the chain.

With this apparatus vessels sunken in deep waters can be raised without ditficulty and. without great expense. The hold, upon the vessel once being obtained in the manner described, the subsequent work will be comparatively easy. g

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The hoisting gear or mechanism for appajoint operation substantially as and for the ratus for raising sunken vessels, consistingof purpose set forth. screwsi each having a right and a left handed thread, carrying alternately ascending and de- HENRY SOHUYLER' 5 scending bridges k, adapted to permit the at- Witnesses:

CHARLES M. GHAs-E,

tachment thereto of a hoisting chain, rope, or

WM. A. LAWRENCE.

cable, and the gearing lm, all arranged for 

